A motion put forward last week by Vision Vancouver Councillor Tim Stevenson to ban businesses in Vancouver that practice gay conversion therapy was passed unanimously by city council on Wednesday.

“The practice of ‘conversion therapy’ or ‘reparative therapy,’ pseudo-scientific
techniques that attempt to persuade persons to change their sexual orientation or
gender identity, is seriously harmful to persons and is opposed by the Canadian
Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, the American
Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association and others,” the motion said.

It added that the City of Vancouver is strongly committed to supporting the
equality and human rights of the LGBTQ2+ community and all city residents.

It also noted that sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity expression are prohibited grounds of discrimination, according to the BC Human Rights Code.

The motion brings Vancouver in line with other provinces in Canada that have banned conversion therapy practices, including Ontario and Manitoba.